Inbox: Portland’s Top Water Users

Tags:

These individuals are selfishly wasting a limited resource [“Hydro Hogs,” WW,
Aug. 21, 2013]. That said, it is the government’s responsibility, not
theirs, to reduce the amount of energy consumed through water usage.

Additionally, every
person on Earth has a moral obligation to use water responsibly. Keeping
one’s estate “lush” while one is “out of the country” and fountains
bubbling pleasantly 24/7 does not fall under that category.

—“geewhiz”

You should be ashamed of yourselves for this kind of
article. If you didn’t notice, it rains nine months a year—we aren’t
exactly running out of water.

These people pay for
every drop, just like everyone else in the city. I’m sure the water used
in our Portland parks is thousands of times greater. Should we close
those down? And all of our industrial plants as well? What about all of
the water used for school grounds and athletic fields?

This is just another stab at the successful people who run our city.

—“portlandpdx”

Very interesting report. Now I’d like to know how the
water use of these single-family homes compares with industrial users.
Undoubtedly, the city’s biggest water (and energy) hogs are not
individuals but industry.

We can change our
individual consumption patterns all we want, but as long as industry
does nothing to curb its appetite, our efforts are just a drop in the
bucket.

—“Meredith”

I think it is a crock you guys are singling these people out. They pay their bills and are no doubt standup citizens.

What about all of
those water fountains in the city that are wasting water 24/7? How much
water is that? Why don’t they install on/off switches. Did I miss that
part of your story? If it was such a big deal to use water, then they
would do that.

—“Eric Stallsmith”

HALES’ ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

If I understand this article [“The Mayor’s Bar Tab,” WW,
Aug. 21, 2013], no one except Mayor Charlie Hales likes his
“entertainment” district. Yet Charlie is trying to figure out who he’s
going to make pay for this poorly planned “entertainment” district.

—“Annie Smythe”

We should spend that $80,000 [yearly cost] studying how
much would it cost to relocate the entertainment district to the
suburbs. Go home, please.

—“Gary”

HALES’ PLAN FOR CARBON TAXES

Greenhouse-gas reduction and externality taxation must be
approached regionally, not municipally, to make a difference, and the
revenue should be used to offset the effects of carbon emissions, not
pad the city’s coffers.

—“Guest”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR must include the author’s street address and phone number for verification. Letters must be 250 or fewer words. Submit to: 2220 NW Quimby St., Portland, OR 97210. Fax: (503) 243-1115. Email: mzusman@wweek.com

"In the low usage areas, we found that our vehicles sit idle four times longer, ultimately affecting overall vehicle availability for the Portland membership base, as well as parking for the Portland community."

News
East Portland can't catch a break.Just this week KGW had a story called, "Diverse, non-cool East Por... More